Samiuela Elone

A Multilateral Youth Exchange in Finland between the Vuosaari Youth Work Unit Vuosaari2(Vuny) and three visiting groups from Spain, Estonia and from France. We hosted the visitors in July from Sunday the 25th to Sunday the 1st of August in Vuosaari at the Eastern part of Helsinki. There were 51 participants in whom 42 were young people from age 14 to 17, and 7 youth workers. The young people were from disadvantaged neighbourhoods, from ethnic minorities and with fewer opportunities.

The title was Intercultural Learning, Youth Active Participation and Youth Access to Social Rights. The content of the project was based on the needs of the young people. Non formal learning methods such as workshops, role plays, outdoor activities, and excursions were used to promote active participation, to promote learning and understanding of each others’ cultures, to promote social inclusion, to raise awareness on access to Social Rights, and to facilitate the young people’s personal and social development. The project was also aimed to build young people’s competences on tolerance, respect human rights and the rules of law, democratic principles are important values for themselves as individuals as well as European citizens.

Target group: 42 unemployed young people of immigrant background and with low school achievements; aged 13-17 years old.

Social rights addressed: All social rights

Local authorities involved:

The project was part of my work at one of the City of Helsinki Youth Department’s Youth Work Units. I got the support from my Unit’s Director and from my colleagues. The project was approved by Lasse Siurala, the Director of the Youth Department and the highest authority at the Youth Department.

I got all the supports that we needed in the project. I am a participant as a representative of the Youth Department. Supports were provided in terms of working hours and financial support. There also extra workers to help with the practicalities in addition to two of us youth worker who directly involved with the project. We were also hosted at our youth centre which was very convenience.

Results:

  • The young people/participants got to know about social rights
  • They are more active in defending their rights
  • As a result of raising awareness, all the participants got to know about there is such a document called Social Rights

The current stage of the project: Finalised